CHAPTER 2
Rogue awoke with a startle. Her eyes flashed open and she took in a deep breath. It all hurt, but her chest had felt as if the Juggernaut himself had been sitting on her for years. All around her, she heard loud beeping and chiming. She turned her head to the left. Big mistake. The muscles in her neck screeched in protest against her movement. She winced. After the initial pain dissipated, it died down to a dull throbbing. She took another breath, this time a shaky one. She looked around. She was in the med bay. The med bay! She was home! For a second, she was so happy she couldn't breathe. Then she remembered she had to. She began coughing and sputtering. She reached up to wipe her face. She had a breathing mask over her mouth and nose, her arms were covered up in bandages, and she was connected to wires everywhere.
She tried to call out but her voice wouldn't obey her. After several tries, she was just about ready to give up. Finally, she heard footsteps outside in the hall. They were heavy and slow in pace. Suddenly, the sound began to frighten her and she began to remember- the sound heavy, black, stiff combat boots belonging to a scientist coming to take yet another sample of her being was projected into her mind. She began to hyperventilate and the heart monitors came flashing to life. She began to struggle and whimper. A familiar, husky voice shouted outside- "She's wakin' up!" The footsteps began to quicken and for a second she listened to her breathing, sharp, weak, and wavering. In that moment, Rogue realized just how weak she had become. How weak they had made her. But she couldn't remember who they were.
"Rogue! Rogue, baby- please calm down. I'm here now; no one will hurt you I promise!" Logan came busting through the doors and ran to the table. He began to stroke her hair and speak softly, which was very unlike him. "I'm here. Don't worry." He repeated, each time pulling her closer to him. She inhaled his scent. Cigars, beer and wood. She could feel her heart rate slowing down. She began taking deep breaths and she heard the monitors quieting. "That's my girl." Logan said, cradling her. She listened to her shallow breaths and her heart began to break. This is what she is reduced to. Shaky breaths and vulnerability. She felt like crying but knew she would upset Logan.
"Ah'm okay." She managed to squeak out. Logan looked down at her, a loving expression strewn across his face. "Sure? I could go get Hank-" Rogue cut him off. "No. Ah want yah tah stay with me. Please?" Logan pulled up a stool to sit on and placed it next to the bed. When he sat upon it, it made a loud 'clunk' noise. She smiled weakly. Logan came close to the table and looked down at her. She then struggled to reach his large hands. He moved them towards her and then she pulled away. "No." She whispered. "I can't. " she wanted to cry but didn't wish to alarm him. She found the strength within her and gave him a genuine smile.
"What did Ah miss?" She shivered. Logan let out a laugh, a sound Rogue loved. It was warm, deep and expansive, a good sound- and she knew that not many people got to hear it. Logan was her family, one of the people that made it so hard for her to leave. But she did it anyway. Night after night, after she left, she asked herself why she would ever leave him. She could remember him always saying that he would protect her, and take care of her, but she left him. She knew he would forgive her, but she doubted she would ever forgive herself. She left the only place she ever truly called home and for what? An injection, which then turned into her captivity.
"Not much. I mean we gained about 30 new kids, redecorated a bit, but that's all." Rogue nodded. "What's new with you?" Logan looked down at her, puzzled. "Um... Well, I actually haven't left. Since you didn't come back home after the procedure, we sorta knew something went wrong. So we began to search for you, first at the facility. We gained some information from the employees there and then we began searches in other places. This last one we found you at, was the last straw. We didn't know what direction we would take after this. But Remy," Logan said the name with a certain discomfort. "Remy was the one who made us stay and check one last time."
Rogue had almost forgotten about Remy. She silently cursed herself. "How is he?" She asked silently. Logan's face lost its soft comforting expression and took on one of seriousness. His jaw tightened and his eyes lost their happy spark. "Well, he certainly is much better now that you're back." Rogue could feel the worry boiling up in her stomach. "What was wrong before?" "He...let himself go a bit. Not that he's fat- the complete opposite. He just, took it harder than most, yah know?" Rogue clenched her teeth and nodded. "What did Ah do?" She whispered to herself, eyes closed. "No, Stripes. Don't do that to yourself. You made a decision and that's fine. But we all just missed you." Rogue was silent. "But let's forget all of that, yeah?" Rogue nodded in agreement. "Come on. You need a walk outside. I'll get Hank to come down and check you outa here." Logan left to go get Hank.
The sun outside was unbearable. Rogue had forgotten how pale she must appear. 3 years in a test facility was too long. As Logan pushed her around the school grounds, she received strange looks from children she had never seen before. She began to feel horrible when she heard Logan snarl to a group of staring kids, "Mind yer own beeswax." She also saw people that she did know. A mutant named Boom Boom or Tabitha held the same shocked expression on her face but quickly shook it off and smirked. "Jeez Rogue, I heard you were sick, but not dead!" She snickered. Rogue got ready to cringe at Logan's remark, but he made none. He just wheeled past her.
They finally got to the back door. Logan stopped her and opened it for her and Rogue wheeled herself through the door. The second she had, she wished she hadn't. All she saw was a flash of blue and she smelled brimstone. He was before her in an instant. "Rogue!" A harsh German accent resounded in the lobby. As soon as Kurt had exclaimed her name, the room swarmed with X-Men, all simultaneously gasping 'Rogue?' It was becoming a bit too much for her and she began breathing a bit heavier, as if the air in the room was hot and humid. "Guys give her a bit of space." Logan declared. Rogue silently thanked God for his super hearing.
Kitty came up to her, tears falling down her face. "Oh Rogue." She said quietly. The room was silent. She looked like she wanted to say something but her oncoming tears wouldn't let her. Rogue looked up at the small framed, shaking girl and smiled. "Whassa matter Kitty? Cat got yahr tongue?" She gave a shaky laugh, and then her smile faltered. "I want to hug you. Can I?" Rogue let a big smile out and held out her arms to the crying girl. To this action, Kitty threw herself at Rogue, being careful that they didn't touch, she squeezed Rogue. "Rogue-" she said sobbing. "I thought we had lost you!" Kitty was literally trembling, so Rogue stroked her hair and made 'shh' sounds, just as Kitty used to. "No more cryin Kitty Cat-I'm home." She whispered.
Professor's strong voice called out her name. "Rogue." He said it with such love that Rogue felt she would cry herself. "Hi Professor." She said, sounding small. "My wonderful Rogue," he said, a wide smile spreading across his face. Storm was pushing him and looked down at her as well. "Welcome home, love." Storm's winter white hair had gotten so long, it now reached to her upper thighs. She looked beautiful. Professor laughed and said, "I believe you understand the way I feel now." He said gesturing towards her wheelchair. "Ah think Ah do." She said laughing. Professor leaned over and wrapped Rogue in a warm hug. He smelled of peppermint and soap. She smiled. She was home.